Campanula Plant Named &#39;Blue Angel&#39;

ABSTRACT

A plant variety of the Campanulaceae family, having the varietal designation ‘Blue Angel’, with a spreading growth habit, showy appearance from many blooms, and large campanulate, actinomorphic flowers. Flowers are R.H.S. 91 A (violet-blue group).

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

The new plant is Campanula sp.

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

The new plant's varietal denomination is ‘Blue Angel’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of the Campanulaceae family. The new variety is named ‘Blue Angel’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The distinguishing characteristics of the new variety are retained by asexually reproduced, successive generations.

The plant is a mutant sport of Campanula sp. ‘Blue Rose’. The plant was found by the inventor in a cultivated area in a commercial nursery.

The new variety possesses the commercially desirable characteristics of: a spreading growth habit with dense foliage, and it produces many relatively large flowers that at maturity are R.H.S. 91 A (violet-blue group).

The new variety differs from its parent and other related cultivars by virtue of its large flowers.

The inventor has asexually reproduced the new variety through three successive generations by cuttings at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay Calif., and has found that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed remain firmly fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings serve, by color photographic means, to illustrate the new plant variety. The colors are represented as truly as possible using conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of a plant grown from a cutting in one pot of the new variety illustrating the overall appearance and form of the plant, and the abundance of blooms.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of a number of flowers of the new variety.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph of the plant showing the top of the plant.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph of various flowers removed from the plant.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph of a plant removed from its soil.

FIG. 6 is a color photograph of the base of a plant removed from its soil.

FIG. 7 is a color photograph of a single main stem of the new variety.

FIG. 8 is a color photograph of a single main stem of the new variety.

FIG. 9 is a close-up, color photograph of a single stem of the new variety, showing buds of the new variety.

FIG. 10 is a close-up, color photograph of a single stem of the new variety, showing buds of the new variety.

FIG. 11 is a color photograph of various buds and flowers removed from the plant.

FIG. 12 is a color photograph of various leaves removed from the plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety. The new variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color designation and other values stated may deviate slightly from the stated values from flowering to flowering, but the deviations will be within the range expected from varying environmental, seasonal and cultural conditions. Color designations were made according to the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

The pictured plant was grown in a 6 inch pot.

The following description is based on observations of optimally fertilized plants grown at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Temperatures in Half Moon Bay on average range from 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months, and from 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

-   Varietal name: ‘Blue Angel’. Classification: Family — Campanulaceae.     Genus and Species — Campanula sp. -   Form: Herbaceous, terrestrial plant with many spreading lateral     stems. Lateral stems are many branched with the plant spreading well     away from its pot. The observed plants were approximately 17 cm     high. Stems can range from 15 cm to 20 cm in length. -   Stems: General — Stems are many branched with new shoots growing in     leaf interfaces. Lateral branches that are relatively long when     compared to the main stem usually start at the 11^(th) or 13th node     below the terminal flower. Each lateral branch and each branch from     a lateral branch ends in a terminal flower giving the plant a showy     appearance. Size: Width — 1 mm at base of flowers and as much as 2     mm wide where lateral stems have grown from main stem. Color: The     upper, non-woody portions of the main stems are R.H.S. 146A     (yellow-green group). The middle portions of the stems and new stems     are R.H.S. 145A (yellow-green) group. Woody portions of stems are     164 B (greyed-orange group). Texture — Glabrous in upper and mid     portions and woody at base. -   Leaves: General — Leaves are whorled on the stem. Very young leaves     are simple, entire, toothed, actue, lanceolate, and have a     relatively smaller petiole than older leaves. Mature leaves have     broadly acute apexes, and are toothed and obovate, with relatively     longer petioles. Leaves are pinnately veined. Size: Length — Mature     leaves that are approximately 10 nodes below the meristem of the     lateral branch are approximately 33 mm long, including the petiole.     The petiole on these leaves is approximately 16 mm long and the     blade is 17 mm long. Leaves closer to the stem's terminal     infloresence lack petioles or have reduced petioles. Leaves even     farther down the stem than 10 nodes can have a petiole that is 30 mm     long with a blade that is 13 mm long and 15 mm wide. Width — Mature     leaves are approximately 15 to 22 mm wide. Color: Adaxial surfaces     of leaf and the petiole are predominately R.H.S. 147 A (yellow-green     group), while the abaxial surfaces of the leaf and petiole are     predominantly R.H.S. 147 B (yellow-green group). Texture — Abaxial     surfaces of the leaves and petioles are glabrous. Adaxial surfaces     of the leaves are glabrous. -   Flowers: General — Flowers are actinomorphic, solitary, perfect,     terminal and 5-lobed. The calyx is united. The corrola is     campanulate with many whorls of petals. The stamens have wings. -   Sepals — general: The calyx is 5-lobed, regular and united to the     ovary. Size: Length — 4 mm from base to tip of sepals when corrolla     is 14 mm long and flower is mature. Width — 2 mm at base. Color:     R.H.S. 147 A (yellow-green group). Texture: few small white hairs. -   Petals — general: Petals inserted on ovary and form 5-lobed somewhat     bell-shaped flower with multiple whorls (4). Petals are     approximately 15 mm in width. Size of Flower (at full bloom): Height     of flower — 14 mm. Diameter of flower — 22 mm. Color: Mature flowers     are R.H.S. 91A (violet-blue group). The adaxial surfaces of the     petals have less pigmentation at the base of the petals and more     pigmentation at the tips. The pigmentation of the abaxial surface of     the petals is more even. Outermost petals of the flower, when the     flower is still immature, are R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group) and     develop pigmentation as the flower matures. Texture: Succulent.     Glabrous when mature. -   Androecium (stamens) — general: 2 to 5 inserted stamens having basal     winged filaments that cover and hide the ovary. Anthers become     desiccated. Stamens and anthers are often not fully formed and not     uniform. Total length of stamens is typically 10 mm long. Color —     Wings and filament are white R.H.S. 155D (white group). Texture —     Glabrous, but with short hairs on the wings. Anther: Shape — Rod     shaped, if formed. Color — Sometimes tips of filaments, where     anthers would be, if present, can be R.H.S. 91A (violet-blue group). -   Gynoecium (pistil) — general: Compound, parietal placentation with     united style. Style: General — Inserted in top of ovary. Shape —     Elongated. Usually 2 to 3 mm longer than stamens that have anthers.     Color — R.H.S. 155 D (white group). Stigma: General — Inserted at     maturity and erect, if it exists, generally with 1 lobe that is     reflexed. Stigma is usually withered by the time the flower matures.     Size — 1 mm long. Ovary: General — Inferior. Thin epidermis with 3     locules, forming 3 carpels with axile placentation. The ovary is     covered by the lobes of the sepals. Color — R.H.S. 147 A     (yellow-green group). -   Fragrance: None. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Campanula plant, substantially as herein shown and described. 